EU: Duty allowance rises for consumers

By Keith Nuthall | 8 December 2008

Cross-border shopping by EU citizens is likely to increase through more liberal personal allowances for duty-free or -paid purchases.

From 1 December, the maximum value of drinks, tobacco, perfume and other products consumers can bring into the EU without paying additional duty rose from EUR175 (US$222) to EUR430 for air and sea travellers, and to EUR300 for land and inland waterways.

Lower land thresholds reflect concerns about potential sales booms from non-EU Eastern European countries with very low prices.

The new rules also mean that four litres of still wine can be imported without EU duty, compared to two litres previously. However, a 16-litre quantity limit has been introduced for beer, replacing the previous financial limit.

EU tax Commissioner László Kovács said: "Citizens will benefit from a nearly doubled monetary threshold and more generously calculated limits for certain beverages."

Sectors: Beer & cider, Spirits, Wine